Talk:Susie Dent

D.o.B

As an angel, Susie Dent has no date of birth. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.148.204.38 (talk) 08:07, 3 June 2010 (UTC)

She was born in 1963 or 1964, as Carol Vorderman wrote in the Daily Mail that Susie was 41 in Sept. 2005. I have to say I was shocked, as she looks like she's in her 20s. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Newsmare (talk • contribs) 16:34, 19 January 2006 (UTC)

I'd for the last few years assumed she was a thirtysomething. -- Smjg 12:05, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

I disagree, I think she was born on the 21st of September, 1967. She is 39 on that date. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.159.247.206 (talk • contribs) 17:18, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

I suspect 21-09-67 date is completely wrong. I also recall the reference to her age as 41 in Carol's Guardian piece and she has said on the show at least once that she is a Scorpio. Tilefish 16:58, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

She was born in 1967, she just said she was a 'sheep' on the chinese calendar, which means she was born in 1967, or perhaps '55 or '79 ;) - Miles (just passing)

Not necessarily. Could have been early 1968. Moreover, Damian Eadie has just stated that the given DOB is wrong, but not given a correction. [1] -- Smjg 12:05, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

As I stated in my edit summary, the above link is to a messageboard post (never a reliable source at the best of times) and it's highly unlikely that it is the Damian Eadie for the reasons I gave. - Dudesleeper · Talk 14:46, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

Evidence on the yahoogroup implies that the real Damian Eadie does occasionally post there, and that that is indeed one of his email addresses. As for the typing errors, I guess too many people are lazy when it comes to apostrophes (not that he really has an excuse). Meanwhile, I've marked it dubious. We can't assume that the DOB is either right or wrong at the moment. And IMDb relies on the contributions of the public, so isn't an overly reliable source. (Does anybody recall whether the DOB it appeared on IMDb before or after it first appeared here? If after, whoever put it there could well have got it from here anyway.) -- Smjg (talk) 15:12, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

"IMDb relies on the contributions of the public, so isn't an overly reliable source " unlike wikipedia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.165.225.157 (talk) 04:01, 22 December 2008 (UTC)

Admittedly from a fan site [2], Carol Vorderman gave an interview regarding an incident with Susie Dent (although the initial source is not credited): "A few months ago, I was leaving the Countdown studio with my co-presenter, friend and fellow forty-something Susie Dent. Suddenly, two handsome twenty-something men in jeans and tight T-shirts walked over to us." You also have to consider all Susie Dent has done in her professional life so far - studying at Oxford and Princeton, teaching in the US and Germany, working for the OUP and Countdown as well, it is not without doubt that she is over 40. As she started working on Countdown in 1992, this would mean she was 28 - which for a position on that kind of programme, she would have to be over 25 to be seen to have an authorative weight there. But as someone else has suggested, who cares? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.28.254.127 (talk) 23:23, 18 July 2009 (UTC)

Carol Vorderman Carol: I'm young and feeling fabulous at 44 3/4; Daily Mail; 08 September 2005.--Johnsoniensis (talk) 13:36, 2 July 2014 (UTC)

Who cares? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.34.93.110 (talk) 04:34, 28 July 2008 (UTC)

According to a fellow and contemporary pupil of Ms Dent at the Marist in Sunningdale, Ascot, Suzie finished her fifth form education in 1980. [3] This makes a birth date in September 1967 almost impossible, and one of 1964 or 1965 more likely.

There is a birth registered for a Susan Dent in the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) of 1964 in NW Surrey, which, if it were her, would make her currently 45 (and would agree with the previously mentioned statement by Carol Vorderman that she was 41 in 2005). contribs) 00:03, 9 July 2010 (UTC)

To be continued.--Felix Folio Secundus (talk) 12:56, 31 January 2010 (UTC)

I was at school at the Marist Convent, Sunninghill with Susan Dent and she was born in 1964, as I was. She had an older sister called Nicola. Check http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=ROOT_CATEGORY&rank=1&new=1&so=3&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=ms_f-2&gsfn=caroline&gsln=dent&rg_81004010__date=1962&msbpn=82181&msbpn_PInfo=8-%7C1652381%7C3257%7C3251%7C5254%7C82181%7C&msbpn__ftp=Wokingham%2C+Berkshire%2C+England&msmns0=marchant&cpxt=1&catBucket=rstp&uidh=i15&rs_81004010__date=1&_83004003-n_xcl=m&cp=11&msbng0=susan&msbns0=dent —Preceding unsigned comment added by Portia64 (talk • contribs) 19:25, 4 October 2010 (UTC)

Why are some folk, especially Thryduulf, so keen on maintaining the fiction that Susie Dent was born in 1967? All the above evidence, such as official records at BMD and classmates recollections at the The Marist, Ascot indicate that 1967 cannot be her birth year, yet any entry on the main page which refers to any debate as to the correct year of birth is deleted. The 'official research' which substantiates the d.o.b being in 1967 is a link to an unofficial fan's website. Surely there should be a note, at least, which says there is some debate as to the correct date of birth? Come on Thryduulf. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 188.222.157.65 (talk) 06:40, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

Agreed - someone has again removed the 1964 birth date despite there being ample hard evidence of its accuracy (memories of school contemporaries, a registration of birth for a Susan Dent in the right place in late 1964 and Carol Vorderman's article), and I suspect that even if Susie came here and said that she was born in 1964, they wouldn't believe it.Andrew G. Doe (talk) 11:34, 9 March 2011 (UTC)

Though not certain 1964 seems to be the most probable. If it is disallowed entirely a different category from Category:1964 births is required.--Felix Folio Secundus (talk) 18:51, 13 June 2011 (UTC)

The 1967 date has come back: previous discussion suggests it is likely to be wrong.--Felix Folio Secundus (talk) 16:20, 15 June 2011 (UTC)

A reliable reference is still lacking for the 21 Sept 1967 birthdate and the evidence is conflicting.--Felix Folio Secundus (talk) 11:02, 16 September 2011 (UTC)

Recent addition "Susie Dent (born 21 December 1967)" has been reverted. As IMDb information is not verified it is not regarded as a reliable source.--Felix Folio Secundus (talk) 09:33, 23 July 2013 (UTC)

References

As it should be - there's ample and overwhelming evidence that she was born in 1964, not least of all someone who was actually at school with her ! Andrew G. Doe (talk) 20:47, 25 July 2013 (UTC)

Please note the addition of the IMDb date of birth was made by User:KeithJMcA, not by myself.--Felix Folio Secundus (talk) 08:44, 26 July 2013 (UTC)

According to the DM, she is 50: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2951700/Countdown-s-dictionary-queen-conundrum-age-Susie-Dent-quietly-celebrates-50th-birthday-despite-internet-interviews-saying-47.html -P — Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.236.187.175 (talk) 20:19, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

Per WP:BLPSOURCES, "Material should not be added to an article when the only sourcing is tabloid journalism." - this Daily Mail article seems particularly sketchy for explicitly drawing from and actually quoting this Wikipedia talk page. --McGeddon (talk) 21:09, 13 October 2016 (UTC)

...and more recently, WP:DAILYMAIL1 is "no longer considered to be a reliable source" by Wikipedia. --McGeddon (talk) 10:57, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

Although I would distrust the Daily Mail's opinion on whether Hitler was a decent bloke or Simon Cowell's sexuality I think an article about someone celebrating their 50th birthday, with the subject's participation, when they're widely reported to be younger, can probably be accepted as true.TheMathemagician (talk) 21:12, 18 August 2017 (UTC)

This appears to be a case when Wikipedia:Ignore all rules should be applied.--Johnsoniensis (talk) 07:21, 19 August 2017 (UTC)

Marital status

On close looking of her hands during recent countdown I cannot see any sign of a wedding ring. Does anyone know when she got married assuming it is correct that she is married.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 172.214.31.165 (talk • contribs) 18:08, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm reasonably confident she is not married and would suggest that any future references to being so need to be verified. Tilefish 16:58, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

She got married on 10/05/2008 at somerville college, oxford, to Paul. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.67.64.74 (talk) 16:58, 11 May 2008 (UTC) Susie's recent wedding was mentioned in the Countdown programme broadcast on June 1st 2008. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.221.197.139 (talk) 17:36, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

Yes they did announce that she's recently got married. Mglovesfun (talk) 19:27, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Large BBC project

This is referred to in the article. What is it? Macphysto (talk) 16:03, 30 December 2008 (UTC)

How to Talk like a Local

This ISBN 1905211791 looks incorrect; if she continues to have OUP as publisher it would begin '0-19-' 1905211791 would be a smaller publisher identified by a longer code '905211'.--Felix Folio Secundus (talk) 16:59, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

Semi-horse

Should it be mentioned anywhere on her page that she is a centaur? 82.139.91.233 (talk) 12:05, 3 October 2011 (UTC)

Definitely, provided it's supported by a reliable citation. Peteinterpol (talk) 18:00, 3 October 2011 (UTC)

Without a verified date of birth it is unknown whether she could be a Sagittarian or not.--Felix Folio Secundus (talk) 18:44, 3 October 2011 (UTC)

Personal life

I mistakenly changed the DoB to 21 Sep 67 without reading the discussion above. However, this fan site (susiedent.awardspace.com/html/biography.html) is subsequently used as reference to the statement "In her spare time, she enjoys running, cooking, walking, doing crosswords and dining out." As deemed unreliable, I think the sentence should be removed have removed the sentence. U+003F^? 10:25, 29 October 2011 (UTC)

Ironically, I was the creator of said fan site (yonks ago, it doesn't exist anymore), and I distinctly remember copying and pasting the statement "In her spare time, she enjoys running, cooking, walking, doing crosswords and dining out" from an early version of this very wikipedia page. So, as it somehow became a circular reference, I have to agree that it should be deemed as unreliable!

First name

Back in 1996 there was a contenstant on Countdown called Suzanne Dent. [4] Now, I'm relying on my memory here, but I seem to remember Susie saying she'd have to check out later whether they were related. She then commented (perhaps after being asked by Whiteley or someone else) that her name was actually, "Susanna, with an 's'." It's hard to verify, though, without fiding the episode somewhere. JRawle (Talk) 15:55, 16 June 2012 (UTC)

Husband

It would be useful to find out her husband's surname so that nobody assumes she only became Susie Dent when she got married as a recent editor did. Unfortunately something has to be said about her personal life since details of it get included in episodes of Countdown.--Johnsoniensis (talk) 14:49, 25 June 2014 (UTC)

I didn't assume she was using a married name, I just cut "She continues to use her own name Susie Dent." as a statement of the obvious. If you want go further and actually say that she married her husband after becoming known for Countdown, and that she chose not to take his surname, then both of those statements would need sources. But a woman choosing not to change her surname upon marriage doesn't seem very remarkable, I don't understand how it "has to be said". (I don't watch the show.) --McGeddon (talk) 15:24, 25 June 2014 (UTC)

My edit was just a reaction to the anon IP who filled in the infobox spouse=Paul Dent; I assume the source cited does not give his surname or it would have been here already. For many years I did watch the show but do not do so now. I have this page on my watchlist as people come across statements of her birthdate which cannot be true (see discussion above). One would expect a statement here like Susannah Dent married Paul Doe in 1990 and they now have two daughters.--Johnsoniensis (talk) 07:21, 26 June 2014 (UTC)

This "| children = 2 - Olivia (1996-present), Jamie (1998-present)" is not necessary; there is also a 3rd child born in 2008.--Johnsoniensis (talk) 08:29, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

It's also inappropriate to name family members without a strong source, per WP:BLPNAMES, so I've cut this. (I've also cut the veganism, which used to be vegetarianism, and neither of which was reliably sourced.) --McGeddon (talk) 10:57, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

According to a 2015 Daily Mail article - the one confirming her age as 50 in November 2014 - her husband is stated to be Paul Atkins (aged 42), and that she has two daughters (not three), aged 15 and 7.Andrew G. Doe (talk) 07:13, 24 September 2018 (UTC)

I'm not sure if this is still relevant since the whole Personal section has been removed. A Sun article (is the Sun a reliable source?) on 15 February 2019 gives consistent information: she was born "in 1964, making her 54". Susie lives in Oxford with husband Paul Atkins. He’s a primary school teacher. The pair have two children together, Lucy, 17, and Thea, nine.

References

Someone has edited the page to indicate Susie has either divorced or is a widow. I can't find any evidence of her husband dying or of any separation.. The last indication I can find is the same Sun article linked above. I am reverting — Preceding unsigned comment added by Cjmillsnun (talk • contribs) 00:45, 14 May 2021 (UTC)

There is an October 2020 update here. Ghmyrtle (talk) 08:24, 14 May 2021 (UTC)

In 2021 there were multiple sources saying that she and her husband had "split", though it seems unclear whether they separated or divorced. I'm not sure whether any of those stack up as reliable in Wikipedia terms, though. Ghmyrtle (talk) 11:14, 12 April 2022 (UTC)

Education

Citing podcasts is new to me and I'm struggling so can someone help? In the 23/07/19 episode of Something Rhymes with Purple podcast starting at 1min08 Susie mentions that she attended Eton for a term to prepare for the Oxbridge exam. I thought it was an interesting fact to mention. I messed up trying to do it first time and will have another go when I have time but if anyone is nifty with this feel free to add.

Reversions

@Ghmyrtle I wouldn't risk violating 3RR. I've reported BlueprintX on two pages. Seasider53 (talk) 14:33, 16 May 2022 (UTC)

Yes, but see my comment below. Policy, I think, would be simply to give the year in these circumstances. Ghmyrtle (talk) 14:35, 16 May 2022 (UTC)

Birth date

It seems to be clear, and generally accepted now, that she was born in 1964. The argument now is whether her birth date is 19 November, or 21 September. We have an aggressive new editor, claiming personal knowledge, who insists it is the latter and edit-warring over it, and I'm not sure where the November date came from. I don't really care which is correct. Until there is very clear evidence one way or the other the article should simply give the year, in line with WP:DOB, reflecting privacy concerns, etc. etc. Ghmyrtle (talk) 14:34, 16 May 2022 (UTC)

FACT: She was born on 21 September 1964.the year has never been in question. And the date 21 September was mentioned on 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown when Jimmy Carr spoke with Susie Dent about her sharing a birthday with Liam Gallagher. BlueprintX (talk) 14:43, 16 May 2022 (UTC)

So... do you know her, as you claimed on my page, or you're going by this obscure reference on a TV show? Just trying to work out which unreliable source I should be discounting first. Seasider53 (talk) 14:47, 16 May 2022 (UTC)

(e/c) Obviously the year has been in question in the past, but seemingly not now. Are you actually claiming that your "reliable source" is a comment made by Jimmy Carr on a TV comedy panel show? Are you serious?! Where there is a dispute over something like this - and, incidentally, where there may well be privacy concerns - we need simply to give the year, not the date. If Ms Dent has not publicised the exact date herself, there are good reasons for us not to do so. Ghmyrtle (talk) 14:49, 16 May 2022 (UTC)

Just to be clear, are those two sources in the first sentence supporting her year of birth or her name? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 15:04, 16 May 2022 (UTC)